How can I choose Faith over Fear?
This last little while, my
daughter has often asked why it has been so hard for her to continually choose
faith when her fears of death and dying seem so real. She has often questioned
whether or not she has faith, because she seems to fear. In these moments, I
have hugged her and reassured her that she most definitely has faith, and I
have admonished her to keep trying, to “doubt her doubts not her faith”.
Just recently we had a question
and answer family home evening. We allowed the kids to submit any type of
question, and then Bryan and I would take turns answering their questions. My
daughter submitted the question: How do you continually choose faith over fear?
As I read her question, Elder Bednar’s talk came to my mind. I opened my Ensign
and began reading to her about Peter looking away. I then related that back to
our lives. I promised her that there most definitely was going to be moments
when we would have to replace those fears with faith, because her fears would
continually resurface. However, I promised her that if she continually kept her
eyes focused on the Savior, she would prevail.
I asked her this morning what
her impressions have been since our conversation. She said that there have been
times when the fear has resurfaced and she has remembered Peter. She said, “I
have remembered Peter and what Jesus said to him, and I have decided I would
want to be the kind of person where I could continue to walk on the water
keeping my eyes focused on the Savior. Because I have wanted to do that, I have
had to do things to keep my focus. When I find myself feeling fearful, I have
been replacing my fear with uplifting music. As I have replaced the fear I have
had peace; I have been more happy; as I have pushed the fear out, I have felt
reassured that I will overcome.
There are many things that can crowd out our faith—not just fear—so, how can we keep our gaze focused on the Savior?
